Canada strikes back with a vengeance!
Well, a little vengeance to be honest because this immense country has never
been not ‘too big’ in the Metal scène. Since the mighty eighties this land
delivered us fantastic bands like Anvil, Annihilator, VoiVod, Infernal Majesty,
Eidolon, DBC,… but am I exaggerating if I say none of these bands really broke
through and received world domination? Even the last few years we discovered
fantastic stuff from out there, think about 3 Inches Of Blood, Ice Vinland,
Eidolon, Antiquus,… but also they couldn’t conquer the world or even worse;
they never got the fair chance to make any name and stayed far underground. This
scène is in other words still underrated although it seems the scène knows a
real ‘boost’ nowadays… Is this because of Anvil, the ultimate icon of
Canadian Metal? Is it because of their movie, making them finally receive the
attention of a bigger crowd? I shouldn’t really know but at least we can hope
for a renewed start to (re-)discover this metal scène because it’s a fact
more and more new bands are sailing under the Canadian flag.

Just this introduction to make my point
that there is much to learn about Heavy Metal from this beautiful country.
I’ve never been in Canada, I will one day, but it seems to be a country which
brands are especially uncountable miles of woods and immense mountain shapes. As
far as I know there aren’t that much big cities and the country is split by a
French and English part. Maybe in all these facts lies the reasons why their
Metal scène could never lift up to a higher level. Once more I don’t know the
answer…

Sudden Flames is a band I discovered
thanks to this release and I’m glad I could purchase this one although I’m
interested hearing their debut as well. This CD looks professional and
attractive, the kind you should take in your hands at any Metal shop if it was
available but to be honest there's a little chance to find it in Europe. This is
another release without a label and once more we can only question how the hell
this is possible... I will never learn to live with it but it makes me stronger
supporting this kind of bands.

Let’s talk about the music! Sudden
Flames is a typical US / Canadian band! I say both countries in the same
sentence because there really is no discussion that, musical wise, both
countries always offered the similar kind of Metal. Fans of Jag Panzer, Hanker
and plenty of other bands that are influenced by Eighties Metal will be pleased
by Sudden Flames. Here and there Sudden Flames adds a slice of an European sound
into their songs, which makes them more accessible for a bigger crowd. A bit of
an Epic touch in vein of Manowar and additionally high screams, sharp riffs,
screaming leads are enough available; get the picture?

Sudden Flames contains five great
musicians and their guitarists are worth checking them out. The strength of this
2009 release is without any doubts singer Jean-Robert Letarte. You don’t hear
me say he owns the most exclusive vocal sound but he contains strong lungs and
is the perfect front man for this kind of music. The way the “Death” backing
vocals supports his voice in several refrains and choruses are just awesome.The
arrangements are well written but not at all exclusive and original. The strong
production claims the fact Sudden Flames wants to be a True Power Metal and they
easily succeed in that goal. The way some samples are weaved into the songs
makes them sound darker. “The legend of the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow”,
some kind of trilogy, even reminds me to the best Horror stories of King Diamond
although musical wise there are no points of similarity. Anyway I’d like to
hear more from this band in this specific atmosphere because it fits them very
well!

Best
songs to me were without any doubts the previous mentioned trilogy and
furthermore “The Piper (Hymn of sorrow)” which contains great female vocals
in a duet, the irresistible “Nativitas In Tenebris” and “Wonderland No
More”. There’s a lot to discover on this silver disc and the more I’ve
listened to it, the more I’ve really enjoyed it. Sudden Flames owns all trumps
in hand to maintain success although I doubt they will ever dominate the world.
Anyway they’re able to make name in the underground Metal scène and I can
only advice to convince your self at http://www.myspace.com/suddenflames or http://www.suddenflames.com.